TASEK PAUH blogspot

Abdullah, President Musharraf Meet In Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 31 (Bernama) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and visiting Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf met here Wednesday to discuss international issues, including peace efforts in the Middle East.

Abdullah greeted Musharraf at the Prime Minister's Office at 6.45pm before their meeting, which went on until just before 8pm.

Abdullah is scheduled to host a dinner for Musharraf at a hotel here tonight.

The Pakistan president is on a two-day visit to Malaysia to discuss peace efforts in the Middle East.

Meanwhile Agencies reported that Musharaf also visited Indonesia earlier before meeting Pak Lah. (report below)

Call for Muslims to co-operate

AlJazeera, January 31 - Muslim nations must work together to end spiralling bloodshed in the Middle East, the leaders of Indonesia and Pakistan have said.

Pervez Musharraf and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said "like-minded Muslim countries" hoped to gather soon to discuss disputes in Iraq, the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon.

Few details about the proposed forum were provided, but an official who attended Wednesday's talks said the goal was to counter US influence in the region.

"The time has come for action," Musharraf said at a joint press conference at Indonesia's presidential palace on Wednesday.

"There is no room for complacency because things are moving so fast, deteriorating so fast," the Pakistani president added.

Musharraf, who next heads to Malaysia where he will meet Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the prime minister, said he was confident the yet-to-be created group would have a strong, important voice.

"Since the West is looking and searching for methods and new ideas of bringing peace to the region, I think any new idea, any new initiative would be acceptable to them as long as it is workable," he said.

Susilo said he was hopeful "greater dialogue and consultation between like-minded Muslim countries" would help reduce violence in the Middle East.

Labels: Malaysia, Musharraf, Pak Lah, Pakistan, Ummah